lotuspad

Thanks, Jumpdogjump. Saves me a long on-hold phone call to continental.

cedders

Hi all, this is a great thread, so useful!

I am FB Platinum, and I have upcoming intercontinental flights on Cathay Pacific, and USAir.
I was wondering if I could get some love (and status match!) from them (or a SA / OW FF program). Extra Luggage and lounge access well appreciated!!

BogusRogus

I'm curious about this as well.
Any update?

ftv

Delta Platinum here with just 3,500 MQM left till DM and decided not to go there for many good reasons.

While I don't have a ton of flying till end-of-year, several trans cons using any SoCal airport mostly to MCO and one or two to DTW, it's enough to need another airline alliance.

Of course, I could fly any airline as dirt....but why????

Looking for recommendations from my FT friends about ease and quickness of status match of some sort to *A or OW. As I will reach DL Plat again fairly quickly thanks to substantial rollover, this new alliance will become my secondary so there's a great chance I will be able to maintain status in this secondary alliance.

Looking muchly for ease of domestic upgrades (I have one intl trip in January) and ease of maintaining whatever level I can match to. I'd like to complete my match asap. I would hope that the quality of F when upgraded is at least as good as DL, but that is a secondary consideration.

Thanks for any experiences you can relate.

rwoman

AA and UA do status challenges - They are probably the two biggest carriers, but I'd look at their forums (as well as others - US, etc.) to get an idea of which carrier's routing works best for you.

Threads that may help:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ve-thread.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...turn-coat.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...tching-ua.html


AA: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post11822023
UA: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ed-2010-a.html

mersk862

With the United States now down to 4 network carriers, it's become harder.

American and United both offer nonstop service from LAX to Orlando, and fairly easy connecting service to DTW (AA over ORD, with DFW a little more out of the way; UA over DEN or ORD, with IAH being a little more out of the way).

American offers challengers for a fee; United will offer a challenge of flying X miles/segments in 90 days.

I've heard that LAX-MCO on United can be a tough upgrade, as Disney has a corporate contract on that route for those that need to travel between Mouse House East and Mouse House West/Corporate. Quality wise in F, I'd say Delta probably has the better experience (minus the meal service).

Flyer girl

Since this will be your secondary alliance, I am assuming that you will be below Delta's platinum equivalent in the alliance. Since your primary goal is ease of upgrades, United would be a better choice than American, even if the upgrades are few on United as you likely won't fly enough for free upgrades on American.

avidflyer

I do not know about the UA Plat level as I challenged over to UA as a 1K but I can tell you I have been pleasantly surprised. I am actually in ICN as I type this and was OP' uped to the UA J product on the "Premium experience" version 777. The AVOD, contrary to what I have read here, is better than DL. The flat screens are are huge and the selection was incredible. The only issue is there are a few middle seats (I had aisles). Aside from when you are in full 180 lie-flat mode you can walk right out to the aisle anyway. All in all this trip sealed my decision to move.

Here is a cool thing I have not had on DL: The NRT-ICN leg I was upgraded with a wide open Y cabin to the sleeper seats in F! I asked why and the agent at NRT said "because you are a 1K of course". That rarely happens on DL as this was NOT an op-up. Granted it was only a 2.5 hour flight but those FC suites are amazing!

Also 98% on domestic upgrades (99% with a little help from a good FT friend ). So if it has been a while since you tried UA (with status...there is a HUGE difference) then I would say give it a shot.

DHalltheway

Was wondering when you would comment.

UA does intra-asia regional upgrades. Not sure if it is because of 1K but it is on their website.

pbd456

is it? i am not sure if this even true.. this is new with the CO merger but it is only on domestic F seat type route.

avidflyer

Well I can tell you it is true because it just happened to me yesterday. I can scan the BP if you don't believe it and I am sure there is somebody here who can look at the flight (with system access) and report back that it was half full at best. Whatever it was...I am happy and they did call several people to the podium.

Denal1

Have to agree with UA. There is certainly nothing special about Domestic FC on any US carrier but I think the seats are more comfortable on UA and the extra pitch is very welcome to us tall flyers. I have no status with UA so I cant comment on that. Only negative is the E145. UA seems to love them, I think they are the worst planes in the air today. Every flight I take on UA starts with a 3 hr flight on a #@%$ 145!!

Sez_Who

Your choice, of course, but IMO better to hit DM, then look at a challenge. Staying at DL Plat, you would be (at best) only Plat on UA and only the Gold equivalent with AA.

If you reach DM with DL, more possibilities open up. First, you have SC membership, a nice bennie even if not flying DL. You could even gift GM to someone else if you like. But maybe most important, higher DL status means higher match/challenge status. If still an option (seems to come and go), go for 1K on UA or ExPlat on AA.

I suppose there is also US but sorry, don't follow that airline at all.

avidflyer

This. From what I can tell 1K is far better than Prem Exec on UA and we do not know how plat will stack up as it is brand new. Use the leverage from DM for the UA challenge if you are going to move. For 3500 miles it is well wort it IMO.

ftv

What is best for my projected flying is to skip DM and stay Platinum.

That said, is the American Platinum or UA PE a better experience? (AS close to the DL product as I can get.)

Thanks!